Lacrosse Legends- Larry Smeltzer
Larry Smeltzer is known as one of the great goalies in box lacrosse. Smeltzer was originally from Fergus, ON where he played his minor lacrosse. He would continue on at the Junior and Senior Levels in various communities in Ontario, but eventually the game would take him places. He gained a reputation as being tough and fearless in facing some of the game’s hardest shooters.
The stopper would really begin to make his mark in the first version of the NLL, playing in Syracuse in 1974 and then backstopping the Quebec Caribou to their World Championship in 1975. Perhaps the best was yet to come?
The Victoria Shamrocks enticed him to move West where he would become a Hall of fame level star. He was described as “round and burly…..but deceptively quick….” He could stop the ball and start the break. And his play would earn him 4 straight Western Lacrosse Association top goalie awards. Smeltzer would lead his team to a Mann Cup in 1979.
Larry Smeltzer was recognized for his greatness in his induction into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of fame in 1993
Full Video is below!
About the Canadian Lacrosse Foundation
The Canadian Lacrosse Foundation (CLF) is a charitable organization established in 1996 to administer and grow an endowment fund that is used to develop and execute charitable activities within the lacrosse community. The primary purpose of the Foundation can be summarized as follows- (a) To advance the public understanding of the role of lacrosse in the history and cultural development of Canada;(b) To educate and instruct lacrosse coaches and officials on the rules of the game and player development;(c) To provide lacrosse programs in order to support the physical, mental and emotional well-being of aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities and troubled youth; and(d) To receive or maintain a fund or funds and to apply all or part of the principal and income therefrom, from time to time, to qualified donees under the Income Tax Act (Canada).
For more information, please contact:
Jim Calder
Director
Canadian Lacrosse Foundation
Email: james.calder2@sympatico.ca
